Republican Greg Lavelle was taken out by a political newcomer who unseated the two-term incumbent in the Delaware Senate District 4 contest.

School teacher Laura Sturgeon received 11,251 votes, or 53 percent, compared with 9,924 votes for Lavelle.

The Brandywine Hundred race has been one of the most hotly contested races on the ballot with Lavelle's position as the Senate minority whip making him a high-value target for Democrats seeking to expand their one-vote majority in the Delaware Legislature.

The high stakes are one of the reasons Lavelle and the Democrats exchanged a volley of accusations during the final weeks of the campaign.

The Republican was cleared of any wrongdoing after the state Democratic Party claimed he violated campaign finance laws. An ethics complaint Lavelle filed against two Democrats is still pending before the Delaware Public Integrity Commission.